Horizon 2020: Commission to invest €11 billion in new ways to address societal challenges and boost jobs and growth

Today the European Commission announced how it will spend the last and biggest annual share of €11 billion of the EU research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020. In this final year the Commission will focus on fewer and crucial topics such as climate change, clean energy, plastics, cybersecurity and the digital economy, supporting further the Commission’s political priorities. The budget plan will also be geared towards preparing the way for Horizon Europe, the next framework programme (2021-2027) for research and innovation that will feature an important novelty, the European Innovation Council. The latter is a one-stop-shop for innovation funding aimed to turn science into new business and accelerate the scale-up of companies. It is already running in its pilot phase and will benefit from a budget of €1.2 billion in 2020 (for more information see also this factsheet). Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “Horizon 2020 is generating new knowledge and technologies, and has a strong economic impact. For every 100 euro we invest through Horizon 2020, we expect to add 850 euro to our GDP by 2030, creating millions of jobs for Europeans. That is why we have proposed €100 billion for the next Horizon Europe programme, to boost the EU’s competitiveness, innovation capacities and scientific excellence.“Horizon 2020, the EU’s €77 billion research and innovation funding programme for 2014-2020, supports scientific excellence in Europe and has contributed to high-profile scientific breakthroughs such as the discovery of exoplanets, first images of a black hole and development of advanced vaccines for diseases such as Ebola. For more information about this year’s budget plan under Horizon 2020 see here. For key facts and figures on the €2.8 billion investment in 2020 for four focus areas see this factsheet. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 229 83583)

La Commission approuve une nouvelle appellation d’origine protégée de France

La Commission européenne a approuvé la demande d’inscription du « Jambon du Kintoa » dans le registre des appellations d’origine protégées (AOP). Le « Jambon du Kintoa » est un jambon sec frotté à la poudre de « Piment d’Espelette » AOP et produit dans certaines communes des Landes et des Pyrénées-Atlantiques dans le sud-ouest de la France, territoire qui correspond globalement au pays Basque français. Le terme « Kintoa » trouve son origine dans le droit de glandage pour les porcs, appelé communément droit de quinta, perçu par les rois de Navarre depuis au moins le XIIIème siècle sur les porcs qui étaient menés en transhumance dans les montagnes royales de Navarre. Les rois prélevaient ainsi un porc sur cinq, d’où le nom donné à ce droit. Le « Jambon du Kintoa » provient d’un porc Pie-noir du pays Basque, race particulièrement adaptée au climat montagnard. Cette nouvelle appellation va rejoindre plus de 1 450 produits alimentaires déjà protégés dont la liste est disponible dans la base de données DOOR. Pour plus d’informations, voir aussi les pages sur la politique de qualité. (Pour plus d’informations: Daniel Rosario – Tél: +32 2 29 56185; Clémence Robin – Tél: +32 229 52509)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control of Standard Steel by Sumitomo and NSC

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Standard Steel Holdings, Inc. of the US by Sumitomo Corporation of Japan and Nippon Steel Corporation (“NSC”) of Japan, which currently solely controls Standard Steel. Standard Steel manufactures forged steel wheels and axles for freight railcars, locomotives and passenger railcars, and operates primarily in North America. Sumitomo is an integrated trading and investing company that provides a comprehensive range of services and products in Japan and around the world. NSC is active in the manufacturing and supply of steel products. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns because Standard Steel is primarily active in North America and its activities and turnover in the European Economic Area are very limited. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.9384. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

Eurostat : Les prix à la production industrielle en baisse de 0,1% dans la zone euro, stable dans l’UE28 (mai 2019 comparé à avril 2019)

En mai 2019 par rapport à avril 2019, les prix à la production industrielle ont diminué de 0,1% dans la zone euro (ZE19) et sont restés stables dans l’UE28, selon les estimations d’Eurostat, l’office statistique de l’Union européenne. En avril 2019, les prix avaient diminué de 0,3% dans la zone euro et étaient restés stables dans l’UE28. En mai 2019 par rapport à mai 2018, les prix à la production industrielle ont augmenté de 1,6% dans la zone euro et de 1,9% dans l’UE28. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Lucía Caudet – Tél.: +32 229 56182; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tél.: +32 229 56169)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Navracsics in Finland for the EU Youth Conference

Tomorrow, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics, will be in Finland to discuss the future perspectives for education and training of young workers at the closing session of the Helsinki Youth Conference organised by the Finnish Presidency of the EU and the European Commission. Debating with young people alongside Minister of Science and Culture, Annika Saarikko, the Commissioner will highlight the role of youth work in empowering young people, and the value of developing a shared understanding of what quality youth work is. Ahead of the event, Commissioner Navracsics said: “As our societies and young people’s needs and experiences change, youth work needs to evolve. Youth work has an important part to play in equipping young people with the competences they need, and is especially valuable in reaching out to isolated young people. That is why we have placed youth work at the heart of our new EU Youth Strategy. We will work with Member States to boost education and training of youth workers, for example, and keep supporting mobility of youth workers through the Erasmus programme.” The results of the discussions at the conference will feed into upcoming Council Conclusions on the Education and Training of Youth Workers and the EU Youth Dialogue 7th cycle. “Creating opportunities for Youth” is a thematic priority of the current Presidency Trio (Romania-Finland-Croatia), with aspecial focus on “Quality Youth Work for All” by the Finnish Presidency of the Council. The Commission has already proposed a strategic youth work agenda, endorsed in the Council’s three-year Work Plan. (For more information: Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Joseph Waldstein – Tel.: +32 229 56184)

Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)

ESMA has issued opinions on national product intervention measures from:

ESMA’s opinion on the UK proposed measures also concludes that the measures are justified and proportionate and qualifies this conclusion in relation to: 

(i) the FCA’s proposal not to apply the national restrictions to CFD-like option providers authorised in other Member States other than through a UK branch or tied agent in respect of the sale or distribution of those products to UK retail clients; and    

(ii) the FCA’s proposal to apply a 30:1 leverage limit for CFDs referencing certain government bonds, instead of the 5:1 leverage limit in ESMA’s measures.

In accordance with Article 43(3) of MiFIR if a competent authority takes actions contrary to an opinion adopted by ESMA, it shall immediately publish on its website a notice fully explaining its reasons for so doing.

Background

NCAs may take product intervention measures in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014. At least one month before a measure is intended to take effect, an NCA must notify all other NCAs and ESMA of the details of its proposed measure and the related evidence, unless there is an exceptional case where it is necessary to take urgent action.

In accordance with Article 43 of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014, ESMA performs a facilitation and coordination role in relation to such product intervention measures taken by NCAs. After receiving notification from an NCA of its proposed measure, ESMA must adopt an opinion on whether the proposed measure is justified and proportionate. If ESMA considers that the taking of a measure by other NCAs is necessary, it must state this in its opinion.

The opinions that ESMA previously issued on proposed national product intervention measures are published on its website.

The EMCDDA is collaborating this week in the 2019 International Conference on Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care — Inspiration and Direction, organised in Vienna by the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP). The event — running from 1–5 July with a packed programme of plenaries, keynotes and training workshops — brings together national and international experts in substance use prevention, treatment and care.

Speaking at the opening session today, EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel presented the latest demand reduction trends and developments in Europe. Around 1.2 million people received treatment for illicit drug use in the EU in 2017. An estimated 654 000 opioid users received opioid substitution treatment (OST) in the EU, a 4% increase on the previous year.

The Director also highlighted a number of EMCDDA products and services including its Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide; Best Practice Portal and its public health priorities (preventing and treating hepatitis C and preventing overdose deaths). Over 9 000 (9 461) overdose deaths, mainly related to heroin and other opioids, are estimated to have occurred in Europe (EU 28, Turkey and Norway) in 2017, with 8 000 (8 238) in the EU only.

As conference collaborator, the EMCDDA will hold a three-day workshop at the event focusing on the most useful and evidence-based prevention interventions and approaches, based on the European Universal Prevention Curriculum (EUPC). This is ahead of the launch of a EUPC manual in September.

Gregor Burkhart, the agency’s principal scientific analyst in the area of prevention, will present Xchange, the EMCDDA’s online registry of evidence-based prevention programmes, and ask ‘Can registries of evidence-based programmes really make a difference?’ 

Professionals, academics and experts from European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries are participating in the conference, thanks to 15 bursaries being offered through the EU4Monitoring Drugs (EU4MD) project. The three-year EU-funded project — launched by the EMCDDA in January — supports national and regional readiness in the ENP area to identify and respond to drug-related health and security threats.

The International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) is a global non-governmental organisation that supports the development of a professional substance use prevention, treatment and recovery network.

The Hague, 1 July 2019

In close cooperation with Eurojust, Italian and Serbian national authorities unravelled a transnational large-scale fraud in the production and trade of allegedly organic food and beverages from rotten apples. In a successful joint action, coordinated by Eurojust, 9 suspects of an organised crime group (OCG) were arrested. Illegal assets worth €6 million as well as 1,411 tonnes of adulterated product with an estimated value of almost €5 million were seized. 6 companies involved in the criminal activities were searched in the countries concerned.

The Public Prosecutor of Pisa, Italy, initiated a massive investigation into the international OCG, which had branches in several countries. The investigations in those countries, which were actively coordinated by Eurojust in The Hague, revealed an OCG involved in the trade of adulterated juice, jams and other canned food. The products were made from decomposed apples, contaminated with mycotoxins and other toxic chemical substances, unsuitable for human consumption and dangerous for public health. They were then refined with water and sugars, and falsely labelled and promoted as organic products of European origin.

Eurojust, the EU’s Judicial Cooperation Unit, facilitated the communication and cooperation between the Italian Desk at Eurojust and the Eurojust contact point in Serbia. Eurojust enabled the coordination of the national authorities’ investigations by helping them swiftly exchange data and evidence, and ensured the successful outcome of the simultaneous operations.

8 arrest warrants were executed in Italy and 1 in Serbia. The arrestees, which are mainly of Italian and Serbian nationality, are suspected of committing fraud and participation in a criminal organisation.

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